Vermont Care Home Offers Alternative to Home Health for Aging Seniors

Addison County non-profit pioneers new model to address housing crisis and loneliness for older adults

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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In Addison County, Vermont, a home health and hospice non-profit called Addison County Home Health & Hospice is opening a new five-bedroom care home to provide a shared living environment for eight medically frail seniors who can no longer live independently at home. The care home will offer 24/7 caregiving, home-cooked meals, and an on-call nurse to address the growing need for housing and healthcare for the region's aging population.

Why it matters

Vermont is facing a housing crisis for seniors trying to age in place, with 65% of AARP members in the state concerned they won't be able to stay in their homes as they grow older. This new care home model aims to provide an alternative to traditional assisted living that can accept Medicaid and help address issues of loneliness and lack of independence that many older adults face.

The details

Addison County Home Health & Hospice spent over a year searching for the right property, a historic five-bedroom home in East Middlebury, to convert into a shared living environment for eight medically frail seniors. The care home will offer 24/7 caregiving, home-cooked meals, and an on-call nurse to support residents. This model is intended to address the needs of the almost 500 patients the non-profit serves, as the population in Addison County continues to age and more individuals require additional assistance and care.

  • Addison County Home Health & Hospice is aiming to open the new care home in late spring 2026.

The players

Addison County Home Health & Hospice

A home health and hospice non-profit organization in Addison County, Vermont that is pioneering a new care home model to address the housing and healthcare needs of the region's aging population.

Deb Wesley

The CEO of Addison County Home Health & Hospice, who led the organization's search for the right property to convert into a care home.

Maureen Conrad

The Director of Development at Addison County Home Health & Hospice, who emphasized the need for more senior housing options in Vermont to allow older adults to remain in their communities.

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What they’re saying

“Our goal is to provide a home for eight individuals who really are medically frail, are really unable to live at home alone, or require some increased assistance for their care.”

— Deb Wesley, CEO, Addison County Home Health & Hospice (921wvtk.com)

“Folks need a place to live. They do not need to be sent out of state, which is happening on a regular basis, because we don't have the facilities for them. And we feel like they deserve to live in their own communities for the rest of their lives.”

— Maureen Conrad, Director of Development, Addison County Home Health & Hospice (921wvtk.com)

What’s next

Addison County Home Health & Hospice is still working to fully finance the care home project, as Medicare and private insurance do not cover assisted living costs for those who need it. The organization is hoping to open the new facility in late spring 2026.

The takeaway

This new care home model in Vermont represents an innovative approach to addressing the state's housing crisis for seniors and providing an alternative to traditional assisted living that can better support older adults' desire to remain in their local communities as they age.